GEORGE TOWN: If the flood warning siren sounds for a second time, it means it is time to immediately evacuate to higher ground.
This is what residents in flood-prone areas across Penang are being taught by the state’s Irrigation and Drainage Department as part of efforts to improve flood preparedness.
Its deputy director Mohamad Suaimi Ramli said the initiative aims to enhance disaster preparedness and reduce panic among residents during floods.
“Through this programme, we teach residents what to prepare, where to go and how to evacuate safely instead of reacting in panic,” he said.
The warning system uses a two-stage siren. The first is a continuous, slow-tempo, high-frequency siren indicating a flood warning and alerting residents to prepare for possible evacuation.
The second is a continuous, fast-tempo, very high-frequency siren indicating imminent danger and the need to evacuate immediately to higher ground.
Mohamad Suaimi said Penang has 170 flood-prone locations, including 44 areas classified as frequently flooded.
He added that the state currently has 56 flood warning sirens, including six in the Sungai Pinang area, to provide early warning of rising river levels.
Mohamad Suaimi said the number of flood-prone locations had dropped from 231 in 2024 to 170 following the implementation of flood mitigation projects.
Several more mitigation projects are currently underway, including the deployment of 29 mobile pumps to flood-hit areas when needed, he added.
The programme, attended by about 200 residents, was organised by the Penang Civil Defence Force (APM), the National Water Research Institute of Malaysia, Universiti Teknologi Mara Penang and the department.
Mohamad Suaimi said the department also plans to expand the programme to schools to instil disaster preparedness among students from a young age.
Meanwhile, Penang APM director Kol Lokman Hakim Abdul Rahman said the initiative aims to strengthen community resilience through practical training and public education.
He said effective disaster preparedness requires close cooperation between government agencies, the media and local communities.
